A new study by UC San Francisco researchers found that tobacco companies knew NRT hardly ever works without counseling, but now sell it over-the-counter to complement smoking. The 'Tobacco Papers' reveal how industry documents show a shift in perception toward nicotine.
A recent study published in JAMA found that many studies supporting changes to high-risk medical devices are poorly designed and lack rigor. The researchers analyzed 83 supplement approvals for these devices and found similar problems with data quality and analysis procedures as seen in premarket approval studies.
A large California study found that pregnant women with sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea are at a higher risk of delivering their babies before full term. The study also suggests that treating sleep disorders during pregnancy could be a way to reduce the preterm birth rate.
A study by UC San Francisco scientists found that administering klotho to young, aging or impaired mice rapidly improves their cognitive and physical performance. The treatment also showed benefits for aged mice and those with Parkinson's disease-like symptoms, suggesting a potential therapeutic application.
A new study found that patients with lower immune cell numbers, particularly those with exhausted T cells, benefit most from combination immunotherapy. Researchers developed an assay to measure immune cell populations and predict patient responses.
Scientists at UCSF discover primary cilia, found on fat-forming cells in muscle, regulate fat formation and tissue renewal. The study provides new insights into muscle aging and disease, potentially leading to improved muscle regeneration.
Researchers at UCSF developed a computational method to analyze open-access data and identify new treatments for cancer. The method, called Reverse Gene Expression Score (RGES), predicts drug efficacy by analyzing molecular characteristics of real tumors. Four drugs were identified with potential to treat liver cancer and other diseases.
A recent study published in Cell Metabolism found that brain-resident immune cells called microglia play a crucial role in driving overeating and weight gain in mice fed high-fat diets. The study suggests that targeting microglia could provide a novel approach to treating obesity, potentially avoiding side effects of existing medications.
A new clinical study led by UC San Francisco has identified a molecular test that can pinpoint breast cancer patients with the lowest risk of death, even 20 years after diagnosis. The test, called MammaPrint®, can accurately identify ultralow-risk tumors, which are associated with an excellent prognosis and minimal toxic effects.
Researchers have discovered that specialized gut cells called enterochromaffin (EC) cells sense potentially noxious chemicals and trigger electrical impulses in nearby nerve fibers. This finding could lead to new approaches for treating gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A recent study by UCSF researchers found that around 22.8% of children with Tourette's met the criteria for autism, compared to 8.7% of adults. The study suggests that the high rate may be due to shared symptoms rather than an overlapping etiology.
A UCSF-led study found that crowdsourced data may not be representative of certain populations, such as older adults and racial/ethnic minorities. The study suggests that proactive efforts are needed to promote inclusion of underrepresented groups in projects using crowdsourced recruitment and data collection.
Researchers at UCSF found that black heart attack patients suffered higher mortality rates when ambulances were diverted due to hospital overcrowding. In contrast, better coordination between correctional and community health care systems can help reduce these disparities. A separate study also found that released prisoners who receive...
Researchers at UCSF found a significant association between chronic pain and faster declines in memory function and increased risk of dementia in older adults. The study suggests that chronic pain could be related to changes in the brain contributing to cognitive decline.
A new study found that bicycle injuries to adults in the US resulted in $237 billion in medical costs over a 17-year period. Medical costs from non-fatal bike crashes increased by 137 percent, with older men accounting for a significant proportion of total costs.
Researchers at UCSF have discovered that regulatory T cells trigger stem cells to promote healthy hair growth. The study suggests that defects in Tregs could be responsible for alopecia areata and potentially play a role in other forms of baldness.
Researchers used cutting-edge techniques to capture videos of T cell surface dynamics, revealing microvilli crawl independently in fractal geometry to explore antigen-presenting cells. This efficient search pattern allows T cells to thoroughly sample their environment in just minutes, optimizing immune response.
A survey of 5,782 physician mothers found that 78% experienced discrimination, with forms ranging from disrespect and reduced pay to being overlooked for promotions. Employers can mitigate this by implementing policies like longer paid maternity leaves, backup child care, lactation support, and schedule flexibility.
A study has identified four brain-expressed genes as likely risk factors for Tourette disorder, including WWC1, FN1, CELSR3, and NIPBL. De novo variants in these genes were found to have a significant association with the disorder, suggesting a potential target for effective treatments.
Researchers discovered that signals from surrounding tissue trigger dental stem cells to proliferate and differentiate into mature tooth tissue. The findings have implications for understanding tissue renewal and could lead to improved therapies for cancer treatment.
Researchers at UCSF discovered a specialized enzyme that destroys chitin, a tough natural material found in the environment, which accumulates in the lungs and triggers inflammatory lung disease. Mice with this enzyme deficiency developed severe lung disease, but restoring its activity cleared up symptoms.
A recent study by UCSF found that young adults experience greater pleasure from smoking cigarettes while under the influence of alcohol compared to marijuana. The study, which used self-reported data from 500 participants aged 18-25, suggests that co-use of cigarettes and alcohol may be more pleasurable than co-use with marijuana.
A study of California Medicaid recipients with severe mental illness found low cervical cancer screening rates, with only 20.2% screened compared to 42.3% in the general population. Younger women and those from minority groups had higher screening rates, but there was still a significant disparity in cervical cancer development risk.
A new study at the University of California found that assessing and comparing radiation doses across hospitals can lead to significantly lower doses for common CT scans. The project resulted in substantially lower radiation doses for chest and abdominal scans, as well as more consistent radiation doses for head scans.
A new study suggests that brain inflammation and cognitive decline following surgery are triggered by the brain's own microglia. In a mouse model, experimental oral drug depletion of microglia ahead of surgery prevented memory loss and reduced inflammatory molecules in the hippocampus.
Researchers have developed a new technique that allows for precise mapping of cellular signaling networks involved in human biology and disease. This breakthrough opens up exciting avenues for understanding and treating psychiatric diseases, including opioid addiction.
A study led by the University of California - San Francisco found that South Asians and Hispanics of normal weight are more likely to have high glucose and hypertension compared to whites. The researchers found that non-whites need lower BMI levels to match the cardio-metabolic risks of whites with a higher BMI.
Researchers found that mouse lungs produce over half of the body's platelets and contain a pool of stem cells capable of restoring blood production. This discovery suggests the lungs may also play a key role in human blood formation, with implications for treating diseases like thrombocytopenia.
Researchers developed a smartphone app using geofencing to track participants' hospital visits, achieving 65% accuracy. The study highlights the potential of smartphones in tracking medical visits and reducing retrospective reporting errors.
Researchers at UC San Francisco have cracked the mystery of electrosensation in skates, revealing new insights into how these animals detect prey. The study found that specific ion channels play a crucial role in this process, and that there are similarities between the skate's electrosensory system and the mammalian auditory system.
A study using AI technique TDA identified patients with normal brain scans who may deteriorate months after diagnosis and develop symptoms like post-traumatic stress disorder. The research also found molecular biomarkers predictive of poor recovery, paving the way for personalized treatments.
Researchers at UC San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente have identified genetic predictors of normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in healthy men. This information can be used to improve the accuracy of PSA-based prostate cancer screening tests.
The new ENCODE centers will use cutting-edge technology to define the functions and gene targets of regulatory sequences, which play a major role in diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and autism. Scientists aim to identify crucial regulatory elements that control gene expression and cell behavior.
A new study by UC San Francisco researchers reveals that distinct sets of genetic defects in a single neuronal protein can cause either infantile epilepsy or autism spectrum disorders. The study identifies SCN2A as the human gene with the strongest evidence for a causal role in driving ASDs.
A new study found that providing nutritious meals to HIV-positive individuals and those with Type 2 diabetes improved medication adherence, reduced depression, and increased optimal blood sugar control. Participants consumed fewer fats, more fruits and vegetables, and lost weight, while also experiencing fewer symptoms of depression.
A study of patients undergoing catheter ablation found a significantly higher rate of brain injury due to embolism among those with left ventricle therapy compared to right ventricle therapy. Brain lesions may also be associated with cognitive decline, highlighting the need for further research and strategies to avoid these lesions.
Researchers used fMRI to track brain activity in 75 concussion patients and found altered patterns associated with worse symptoms months later. The study identified abnormal connectivity in frontal areas and visual networks, suggesting a higher risk for long-term post-concussive symptoms.
A new study finds that e-cigarettes are expanding tobacco product use among youth, particularly those at low risk of starting with cigarettes. The researchers analyzed survey data from over 140,000 middle and high school students and found no evidence that e-cigarettes have caused a decline in youth smoking
New studies by researchers at UCSF suggest that genetic variants affecting physical traits in men and women are linked to different disease risks. Autism risk is associated with genetic variants known to contribute differently to physical traits in boys and girls.
Research found that successful immunotherapy activates peripheral 'memory' immune cells, key to long-term defense against cancer. A system-wide immune response is crucial for broadening immunotherapy's effectiveness.
A new study found that clinic closures in Texas due to House Bill 2 led to a significant decline in the official number of abortions. Counties with longer travel distances to the nearest abortion facility saw a 50% decrease in abortions, while those with limited capacity at remaining clinics also experienced declines.
A new UCSF study reveals that binge drinking can cause fatty liver, inflammation and enzyme changes within seven weeks. The researchers found that even a short period of excessive drinking resulted in liver dysfunction.
A recent study has identified signatures of ethnicity in the genome that reflect shared culture and environment rather than genetic ancestry. The researchers found that only three-quarters of epigenetic differences between Mexican and Puerto Rican children could be accounted for by genetic ancestry, suggesting a biological stamp made b...
UCSF researchers have identified anti-CRISPR proteins that can switch off the widely used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system, reducing unintended edits and improving precision. The discovery has the potential to revolutionize CRISPR applications in both basic research and clinical settings.
UCSF researchers found a way to pause the development of early mouse embryos for up to a month in the lab by inhibiting a master regulator of cell growth. The treatment could improve outcomes in assisted reproduction and regenerative medicine, while also potentially slowing cancer growth.
A study of over 18,000 adults found that those who slept five or fewer hours per night consumed 21% more caffeinated sugar-sweetened beverages than those who slept seven to eight hours a night. The researchers suggest improving sleep may help reduce sugar intake and break the cycle of unhealthy habits.
Using a high-throughput cell-editing platform, researchers have successfully mutated genes in human immune cells to make them resistant to HIV infection. The new system enables the rapid testing of gene mutations that confer resistance, which could potentially accelerate the quest for an HIV cure.
A study published in PLOS Genetics identified two genetic variations linked to age-related hearing impairment, shedding light on the disorder's biological basis. The research used a large cohort of patients' electronic medical records and genome sequences to discover these genetic links.
Researchers found HIV in brain, kidney, spleen & other tissues of treated patients with undetectable viral loads, suggesting continued disease progression. The study suggests that strategies to 'cure' HIV infection must consider targeting tissue-based sites of HIV.
New research reveals that gene DIXDC1 may act as a general risk factor for psychiatric disease by interfering with brain connection regulation. Mutations in this gene are linked to reduced synapse numbers and impaired WNT signaling in neurons, leading to heightened anxiety, loss of motivation, and social interaction deficits.